Signs that a Dog is Faking an Injury
If your dog attempts to feign an injury, they will demonstrate symptoms that they know prompt attention from their owner. This may be based on their own experience, or from witnessing the illness or injury of another pet.
Your dog may display symptoms consistent with lethargy; weakness, lack of movement, low interest in food or water, shaking, or whining. They may be clingy and unwilling to separate from you. If your dog is faking their illness, this will likely be inconsistent. When you are not around, or your dog believes they are alone, they may drop the act.
Similarly, if a dog is pretending to have an injury, they might be limping, with varying degrees of exaggeration. There may also be audible indications of distress, such as whining, crying, or howling. Again, watch out for consistency; owners who have experienced this with their dogs have noticed switching ‘injured’ legs, and symptoms miraculously disappearing when they believe they are alone. Behaviour may also improve in response to increased attention, and don’t forget to check their tail. If it’s wagging, they might be having a better time than they let on!
Of course, there is a fine line between deceptive behaviour and symptoms of a genuine injury. If you are in any doubt, monitor the situation carefully, but always err on the side of caution. It’s better to visit the veterinarian to confirm an Oscar-worthy performance than risk unnecessary injury or long-term complications. If your dog is afraid of the vet’s office, the threat of going inside may even prompt a rapid improvement in their symptoms!
Unfortunately, because of the sneaky pooch, its difficult to highlight exactly which body language they might be imitating. But, the likelihood is its something they have gotten attention for before. Look for these signs:
Other cues your dog may be giving to make you think they are ill are:
Did you hear about the dog that faked an illness to stop his humans from going to work? It might sound like the opening line of a joke, but it’s what really happened to the owners of a dog named Sully in Utah. Sully had developed what seemed like a hacking cough, but after investigation by a vet, he was found out. Sully had been faking the whole thing for attention!
This is just one of many stories of doggy deception. Owners have also reported instances of their pets feigning a repeat injury after recovery, in order to continue receiving the extra affection they’ve come to know and love. There have also been countless occasions on which dogs have imitated the behaviour of their injured siblings, often with limited success.
Animal behaviour specialists attribute these cases to a dog’s desire for attention. They make a link between the symptoms of an illness or injury, and the additional cuddles, treats, and affection that result. It’s a learned behaviour that they attempt to replicate to achieve the same outcome. Whilst deception may seem like an exclusively human behaviour, there’s evidence to show that our canine friends can be startlingly good actors!
Dogs are creatures of habit. They thrive on routine, and are usually good at making associations between an action and an outcome. Think about one of the first things they learn as a puppy in their new home; housetraining. As their owner, you will diligently take them outside at regular intervals, and reward them for positive behaviour. Dogs don’t understand the reasons why they need to answer the call of nature outside, but over time, they will make the association between asking to be let out, doing their business, and receiving positive feedback.
When dogs sustain an injury, or witness one of their siblings recovering, they will notice that it leads to an increase in affection from their humans. They make a connection between the relevant symptoms and an outcome that they enjoy. Subsequently, dogs may replicate the behaviour they know will lead to extra attention.
The idea of dogs “faking” illnesses or injuries to gain attention is not only supported by countless pawrents, many veterinarians also back the concept. Dr. Richard Pitcairn author of Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, says it usually begins with a genuine symptom of pain or sickness. The response of the owner is what encourages the dog to continue the behavior after the issue has resolved:
Consider how you feel when you are recouperating from a twisted ankle or a bout of the flu. Just as you experience ups and downs along the road to recovery, so does your dog.
If your dog is showing any signs of illness or injury, give him the benefit of the doubt and see your vet. If he or she cannot find a clear medical explanation for the symptom(s), it does not necessarily mean your pooch is faking.
Resolving your dog’s phantom illness or injury may be as simple as providing 20 minutes of your undivided attention each day. Whether it be a walk around the block, a game of fetch, or a simple cuddle session, focusing on your dog will show him that he is still a priority in your life.
Dogs suffer pulled muscles, minor ailments and general aches and pains just like we do. Since they cannot describe how they are feeling, diagnosing an exact cause can be quite difficult.
Why is my dog gagging but not throwing up?
Two very common things that can cause gagging in dogs are infectious problems and laryngeal paralysis. Kennel cough, which is a type of respiratory infection, is a common cause of dog gagging, which results in a harsh, goose-like cough, sometimes followed by a gag.
In Jason G. Goldman’s blog Animal Imagination: The Dog That Pretended to Feed a Frog (And Other Tales), he discusses some evidence that animals, including dogs, are able to pretend. … The dog arranged other toys nearby. This reminded the guardian of the way children play games of make-believe with their stuffed animals.
Signs a Dog is Faking Being Fearful
Yes, dogs can fake being fearful, with the deeper question being why would they do so? Indeed, in a bizarre twist, dogs are so good at faking being fearful that they can begin to believe their own hype and go from acting to believing there’s something to be anxious about.
As long as dogs have been our companion animals and our best friends, there has been evidence in a very individualistic way (not studies) that dogs can fake injuries, pain, and shivering.
Scientists Confirm Dogs Can Detect 8 Diseases
A viral tweet prompted people to share some tales of their cats and dogs faking it for the vet.
If you love your pet, you probably rush them to the vet any time they so much as sneeze, only to find out that you were being a bit hysterical. Well, one pet owner recently shared a story about taking her cat to the vet that had a hilarious ending. It went viral and prompted other people to share stories of their cats and dogs faking sick.
On Jan. 4, Twitter user @PaladinAmber wrote that her cat, Louis, “had been showing signs of dying, not drinking, not eating, sleeping and hiding.” So she took him to the vet, who informed her that his vitals were fine and it seemed like he might have gotten into a fight with a neighborhood cat and lost and was now feeling salty about it.
She couldnt stop laughing at Louis resentment over losing in this “cat fight club,” and neither could the internet—her story was retweeted more than 126,000 times in less than a week.
The thread soon turned into a forum for pet owners to share their own funny stories about dramatic cats and cranky dogs faking sick. Like this Twitter user, whose cat was pretending to be sick just so he could snag some of the tasty wet food the vet would use as a bribe.
Or this feline who was “acting sick,” and it turned out she was just loudly protesting the fact that her owners were going on vacation. “Cost $700 to find out she was being dramatic,” the conniving kittys owner wrote.
Or this other cat who “pretended he was dying,” because his human had a baby and he wasnt getting as much attention as he wanted.
But dogs can be adorably manipulative as well, like this pup who would limp any time he saw a suitcase in the hopes that his owners wouldnt go away if they thought he was hurt. Thats strategy, right there.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
Of course, theyre not always pretending; pets can suffer from depression, just like humans. One Twitter user took her dog to the vet because he kept wetting himself, and found out he had extreme anxiety and had been secretly “comfort-eating” cat biscuits.
Or this dog who was “traumatized” by a possum living under his home that had hissed at him.
Its just more proof that, when it comes to emotions, animals really arent so different from us humans. Diana Bruk Diana is a senior editor who writes about sex and relationships, modern dating trends, and health and wellness.